It has been a month since David and I arrived at the airport to pick up our little joy, Jeje. Despite being quite experienced with dogs myself, I was a bit nervous with how everything would go since Jeje spent so many hours in the plane. She didn’t know me and we didn’t know her history.
Korean Dogs
No Dog Left Behind
Being a rescue organization isn’t just about finding forever homes for homeless dogs. It’s about being an advocate for all dogs and pet companions. We know how important pets are to us, and what a significant role they have in our lives. We at Free Korea Dogs often use the motto “compassion knows no borders”, and we strive to live up to that standard. We understand it is impossible for us to save every single dog, and the dogs who come into our rescue are only a very small percentage of dogs in need. These other dogs are no less worthy of our help, and while we often have to come to terms that we cannot help every dog in ways we would like, we will always do as much as we possibly can.
Pickle’s Holiday Wish
Pickle found herself in quite a pickle when she was only 6 months old, although none of the ordeals was her fault. It’s a shame dogs don’t get to choose their owners, because Pickle had the unfortunate luck of having a sinister and abusive owner. One day, she was witnessed being beaten and tossed out of a window. Thankfully, neighbors reported the incident to the police and the owner confessed. Pickle was then taken away from the horrible situation and taken to safety. That’s when we were contacted, and the moment we knew we needed to help her precious soul.
The Beginning of a New Start … For Good!
We say it all the time – rescue is simultaneously fulfilling and inspiring as it is disheartening and traumatic. Earlier this year, we shared a rescue story of a few dogs who were being raised on a construction site to be sold for meat as a secondary income, and the efforts made to save them.
Yongin Dog Meat Rescue Update 2
It’s been for a while since we discovered and rescued 15 dogs from a restaurant in Yongin, Korea, who were being raised for slaughter for fresh dog meat stew. They have since been known as our “Yongin rescues”, and while we have been inadvertently slow with updates we have been busy with the pups behind the scenes!
Boknal: Did You Know?
Boknal, Korea’s annual dog meat tradition in which dog meat consumption is encouraged during the “hottest days of summer” to boost stamina, immune systems, and prevent or cure other ailments, is now underway in Korea.
Winter brings spring
As the pandemic hit in 2020, I quarantined with my beloved 14 year old rescue dog Rascal. I knew we were in our last season together, and I put all of my energy into making the most out of our time. He was the best dog I’ve ever known, and my best friend. At the time, I couldn’t even imagine opening my heart to another dog anytime soon. But I knew the day would come, and I wondered if getting Rascal’s DNA test might point me in the right direction when that time came.
The Dogs of Weolbong Shelter
“The mountain babies” is what we refer to the dogs who are currently living in the remote mountain regions of Korea in a shelter run by a Buddhist nun. Many of them have been living there their whole lives. All of them have something in common – they all escaped terrible fates. How did they come to live here? They were all rescued by the nun who owns, runs, and cares for dogs at her shelter. For many dog lovers, especially those in rescue, helping dogs is a part of life. But for the nun, it has become a way of life.
The Charley Diaries Part 3: Expanding Horizons
Training a dog to get settled is not something that happens overnight, because dogs don’t understand human languages or the circumstances of the fate we’ve chosen for them. Settling in takes time and patience. The process isn’t black or white, nor is progress linear. There is no ‘typical’ timeline in which things are expected to happen (or not happen). Along the way there are pushes and nudges; a hop, skip, jump, and leap here; hurdles, obstacles, and setbacks there. We (dogs and humans) work together towards mutual trust and understanding in order to persevere, and when we’ve hit a wall, we pivot our approaches to march upwards and onwards.
The Charley Diaries Part 2: Getting to Know Each Other
Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither is Charley’s confidence. But the city slowly became a hallmark of pride, inspiration, and awe. That’s where our little Einstein is headed. Charley has been slowly gaining his confidence, and trusting his humans to lead him there. More and more he is choosing what is right, and quicker and quicker he is to realize his mistakes and to adjust his actions accordingly.
The Charley Diaries Part 1: Settling In
This is Charley. He is not available for adoption at the moment, but is working hard to get there.
An Update On Our Dosa Dog Meat Rescues!
On August 7th, 2020 Free Korean Dogs answered a call for help to rescue 6 Dosa dogs who would have either drowned in the recent floods or slaughtered for a celebratory meal during the last day of Boknal. Our rescue was a success, and we’ve taken the last few weeks to address their medical needs and get to know our newest friends.